Flexible hat with compressible padded insert

ABSTRACT

A flexible hat or cap-like assembly having a compressible doughnut shape memory substance or padding disposed within and is worn on a person&#39;s head for cushioning an object or load such as sheetrock which is carried or supported on the head during drywall installation of a ceiling. The doughnut style padding places the pivot area of the object off the crown of the person&#39;s head and places the pivot area around the outer parameter of the head. This increases the pivot area of the load to equal the circumference of the compressible substance. The larger pivot area increases balance and stability of the load and reduces side loading and thrust on the person&#39;s neck which is associated with prior art devices having a centralized load pivot point.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to devices worn by a person for lifting, carrying, and supporting of sheetrock while installing a ceiling. In its most preferred embodiment, this invention relates to a cushion or padding of compressible substance attached beneath the top of a flexible hat or cap-like assembly which is worn on a person's head.

2. Description of Prior Art

Construction workers have always carried large objects such as sheetrock, ply board, etc, on their heads. Hardhats are not always comfortable or required in drywall construction and can even damage the sheetrock when sheetrock is carried on top of the hardhat. Existing flexible hats and caps provide no provisions for softening the effects of hard material pressed against a person's head and heavy materials can cause the person to experience injury or temporary pain from the object being carried.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,050,245 to Nearhood 1991 discloses a tool comprising manipulation means for cephalically manipulating a large flat board used for construction of a ceiling and attachment means to detachably affix the tool to a wearer's head, said manipulation means being shaped to fit on top of the wearer's head, said manipulation means being detachably affixable to the wearer's head and wherein said manipulation means further comprises a thick cylindrical member made of a soft spongy material, said member having a flat top surface, and said member being attached to the wearer's head by said attachment means.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,255,394 to Long 1993 discloses a device for supporting an overhead load in an overhead location from a workman's head, comprising a helmet portion to be supported upon a workman's head and comprising a substantially rigid hard hat with a substantially dome-shaped interior and to be carried upon the workman's head. U.S. Pat. No. 5,636,383 to Cwiakala 1997 discloses a rotatable, head mounted support apparatus for supporting a ceiling panel.

CONCLUSION—PRIOR ART

After observing the prior art devices used for supporting a ceiling during installation, it becomes apparent that these devices either load the crown of a person's head which creates an unstable central pivot point of the load being carried or sits well above the crown of the person's head which changes the pivot point and center of gravity of the load, thus either way significantly increases the side loading and thrust on the person's neck. Therefore a need still exists to have a supporting device that supports an object being carried on a person's head which will provide a larger pivot area about the person's head and reduce the side load and thrust which is present with a centrally located pivot point associated with prior art devices.

THE INVENTION—PRIMARY OBJECTIVES

Accordingly, several primary objectives of the present invention are:

a) to provide a flexible hat or cap which will establish a load bearing pivot point dispersed evenly around the crown of a person's head for lifting, carrying, balancing, or supporting of an object on the person's head.

b) to provide a flexible hat or cap which will protect a person from injury or temporary pain associated with carrying building materials on their head.

c) to provide a flexible hat or cap which will protect building materials such as sheetrock from possible damage which may accrue from conventional hats or hardhats.

Further objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the ensuing description and drawings.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a principal aspect, the invention constitutes a flexible hat or cap-like assembly worn on a person's head for carrying, lifting, or supporting drywall on their head during installation of a ceiling.

In a further aspect, the hat or cap-like assembly comprises a compressible substance or padding having a doughnut shape with a hole, a washer shape with a flat upper surface, or an indented shape located in the bottom of the padding. The padding can be placed or attached beneath the top surface of the flexible hat or cap-like assembly, therefore hiding the padding and retaining the original look of the hat, such as styles with or without a brim or bill.

In still a further aspect, the person wearing the hat places an object or load on top of the hat. The compressible substance or padding having the hole, flat member, or indention disperses the pivot point of the object or load off of the crown or top most part of the person's head and distributes the load evenly about the outer circumference of the padding and person's head. The larger pivot area increases balance and stability of the load and reduces side loading and thrust on the person's neck which is associated with prior art devices having a centralized load pivot point.

DRAWINGS—FIGURES

FIG. 1 shows the present invention of a hat having a doughnut shape padding inserted between plural layers of material located at or under the top section of the hat.

FIG. 2 shows the present invention of a hat having a doughnut shape padding with an additional flat member placed atop of the padding and inserted and attached to the inside top section of the hat. The hat is shown with an attached brim or bill.

FIG. 3 shows the present invention of a hat having padding with an indention about the center area and inserted into the hat and attached to the top section of the hat.

FIG. 3 a shows the indention in the center area of the padding.

FIG. 4 shows a person using the present invented hat to support a sheet of ply board or sheetrock.

DRAWINGS—REFERENCE NUMERALS

-   10 hat -   12 pocket or material -   14 doughnut shape padding having a hole in the center -   16 flat member -   18 indented padding -   20 sheetrock -   22 brim or bill -   24 hole

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of the present invention. A hat 10 having a flat member 16 placed atop a doughnut shape padding 14 with hole 24. Padding 14 is inserted and attached or glued to the inside top section of hat 10.

FIG. 2 shows the present invention of hat 10 having a plurality of layered material or pocket 12 at or under the top of hat 10 and a cushion or doughnut shape padding 14 with hole 24 inserted between the layers of material 12. The plural layers of material 12 are then closed for securing padding 14 to hat 10. It is beneficial when using pocket 12 that a loose fitting or stretchable material be used for the lower material. This will allow the lower material to give or stretch over the crown of the wearer's head. The hat style is shown with an attached brim or bill 22.

FIG. 3 shows the present invention of hat 10 having an indention 18 located in the bottom center area of padding 14 which is inserted and attached beneath the top section of hat 10. The hat style is shown without a brim or bill.

Operation—FIG. 4

The manner of using the present invention, namely, one wears hat 10 which contains padding 14 while performing drywall installation or other construction projects. The wearer of hat 10 places sheetrock 20 or other objects on the top of hat 10. The weight of sheetrock 20 is absorbed through padding 14 which is hidden or contained relatively under the top surface of hat 10. Padding 14 allows the pivot point of the load to be distributed about the circumference of the wearer's head, The larger pivot area increases balance and stability of the load and reduces side loading and thrust on the person's neck which is associated with a centralized load pivot point.

Advantages

From the description above, a number of advantages of my padded cap become evident: a) A compressible substance inserted in the top of a hat or cap-like assembly to help support, balance, and prevent damage to an object being carried, lifted, or supported on a person's head.

b) A compressible substance inserted and hidden in the top of a flexible hat or cap-like assembly which will distribute the weight of an object about the outer circumference of a person's head for preventing temporary pain associated with carrying the object on one's head.

c) A flexible hat or cap-like assembly which retains an original look of the cap or hat while including the benefits of the present invention for aiding in the support of an object being carried on a person's head.

Conclusion, Ramifications, and Scope

Although the description above contains several specificities, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present invention but as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments of this invention. For example, the cushion or padding substance can have different shapes, such as circular, oval, trapezoidal, triangular, square, etc.; and can be made of different sizes to accommodate different hats or caps, or made with different textures for providing various cushioning effects for different applications. For example, the cushioning effect in a particular hat may have a one texture, while another hat may require a completely different texture, etc, such as a predominantly flat upper surface perforated, ridged, contoured, or other textured, and/or a memory material for contouring to the object being carried and the person's head. The cushioning material may be selected from the group of foam, gel, air, urethane, rubber, sponge, or other equivalent padding means and may be installed on top, inside, or under the top side of a hat, cap, hood, cloth, or head covering which can be worn on one's head while carrying building materials such as, sheetrock, ply board, etc. The padding may be attached to the hat by gluing, sewing, or other attachment means. The head coverings and padding mention in this article may be used in any combination as to achieve the desired results of the present invention. It is beneficial to have a hat, cap, hood, cloth, or head covering which may be used as originally designed and include the benefits of the present invention.

Thus the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given. 

1. A flexible hat, comprising: a compressible substance placed or attached beneath the topside of said hat and said compressible substance having a shape selected from the group of doughnut shape with a hole, washer shape with a upper flat surface, or an indented shape located in the bottom of said compressible substance, whereby said hat having said compressible substance is worn on a person's head for carrying or supporting an object placed on said head and said shape places a pivot area of said object off the crown of said person's head and places said pivot area in proximity to the outer circumference of said head.
 2. The flexible hat of claim 1, wherein said hat is selected from the group of cap like assembles.
 3. The flexible hat of claim 1, wherein said compressible substance is disposed within said hat.
 4. A flexible hat, comprising: a pocket placed in proximity to the top of said hat and said pocket having a compressible substance disposed within said pocket.
 5. The flexible hat of claim 4, wherein said pocket is two layers of material located relative to the top of said hat and said compressible substance is placed between said layers. 